Get Out: April 13, 2012

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Posted Apr. 13, 2012 at 2:00 AM

Posted Apr. 13, 2012 at 2:00 AM

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Annual, spring Table Rocks hikes

Free, guided hikes on Upper and Lower Table Rock are organized by the Bureau of Land Management and The Nature Conservancy. Reservations are required. Call the BLM Medford District Office at 541-618-2200 to sign up. Bring lunch and water and allow three to five hours.

Saturday, April 14: 10 a.m. (Lower Table Rock) - Legacy of a Landmark: Jeff LaLande, retired archaeologist and historian for the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, will discuss the role of the Table Rocks in the culture and legends of the Takelma Indians.

Sunday, April 15: 10 a.m. (Lower Table Rock) - Non-Coniferous Forests: Landscape of Southern Oregon: BLM fire ecologist Ed Reilly will discuss the role of non-conifer plant communities, including grasslands, shrubs and woodlands in the Southern Oregon landscape and how they create habitat for wildlife and botanical species.

Saturday, April 21: 8 a.m. (Lower Table Rock) - For the Early Bird: Harry Fuller, Klamath Bird Observatory field trip leader, will lead a hike to view the spring birds of the Table Rocks. Learn identification tips and conservation information. Hike limited to 15 individuals.

Sunday, April 22: 10 a.m. (Upper Table Rock) - Layers of Time: Jad D'Allura, SOU professor of geology, will talk about the formation of the Table Rocks and the unique geological features observed along a hike to the top of this ancient lava flow.

Saturday, April 28: 7:30 p.m. (Lower Table Rock) - Night Owls: Steve Godwin, BLM wildlife biologist, will listen for sounds of the night from dusk to dark on a jaunt around the Lower Table Rock Loop (1/2 mile, accessible trail). He will attempt to lure pygmy, great horned and screech owls. Bring flashlights and good hiking shoes. Limited to 20 individuals.

Saturday, May 5: 10 a.m. (Upper Table Rock) - Spring In Bloom: Marcia Wineteer, BLM botanist, will lead a hike to explore the native flora and wildflowers of the Table Rocks.

Sunday, May 6: 10 a.m. (Lower Table Rock) - Nature Photography: Professional photographer Jared Cruce will lead a creative adventure up Lower Table Rock. Cruce specializes in commercial and editorial photography and teaches workshops across the country. He will provide tips to improve your shots and to help you find a voice in your images. Bring a digital camera, fresh batteries and questions. No need for tripods or fancy equipment.

Saturday, May 12: 10 a.m. (Upper Table Rock) - Incredible Insects and Spiders: Peter Schroeder, associate professor of biology and entomologist at SOU, will lead a hike to explore the six and eight-legged animals found on and around the Table Rocks. Limited to 20 individuals.

Sunday, May 13: 10 a.m. (Lower Table Rock) - Family general hike: A BLM environmental specialist will lead a general information hike suitable for the whole family. Topics will include wildflower identification, ethnobotany, geology, wildlife, ecology and cultural history.

Saturday, May 19: 7:30 p.m. (Lower Table Rock) - That's Batty: Join Tony Kerwin, BLM wildlife biologist and district planning and environmental coordinator, to learn more about regional bats, their unique characteristics and the threats facing them. The group will use bat detectors to listen for bats on a short walk around the Lower Table Rock Loop (1/2-mile accessible trail). Bring a flashlight and good hiking shoes. Limited to 20 individuals.

Sunday, May 20: 10 a.m. (Lower Table Rock) - Tribal History and Culture: Robert Kentta, cultural resources director, member and elected official of the Confederate Tribes of Siletz Indians, will discuss the history and culture of ancestral tribes moved from the Rogue Valley and other parts of Western Oregon to the Siletz Reservations. Weather permitting, a 45-minute presentation of traditional basketry and regalia (in the parking area) will be followed by a stroll to the top.

Crater Lake snowshoe hikes

Saturdays-Sundays through April 29: Ranger-led snowshoe hikes in Crater Lake National Park start at 1 p.m., last two hours and cover approximately one mile of moderately strenuous terrain. Snowshoes are provided free. Participants should be at least 8 years old, in reasonably good physical condition, and come prepared with warm clothing and water-resistant footwear. Space on each tour is limited, and advance reservations are recommended. For information and to sign up, call the park at 541-594-3100.

SOLC hikes

The Southern Oregon Land Conservancy is offering free, guided hikes for the public in various parts of the Rogue Valley this spring. Numbers are limited, so interested hikers need to pre-register. For more information and to sign up, call 541-482-3069 or email info@landconserve.org. For more details on each hike, see the SOLC's website at www.landconserve.org.

Friday, April 13: Upper Table Rock, Sams Valley. A Bureau of Land Management interpreter will lead a 2.5-mile hike to the top of Upper Table Rock; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; maximum 30 hikers.

Saturday, May 12: Sasha Joachims will lead an easy hike on Upper Table Rock through oak woodland, chaparral and mixed woodland to the mounded prairie/vernal pools on the top. Highlights will include the endemic Southern Oregon buttercup, the rare dwarf wooly meadowfoam and many other spring flowers. Contact Joachims at sasharain71@gmail.com or 541-661-3492. The group will meet at the Upper Table Rock trailhead off Modoc Road at 9 a.m.

Saturday, May 19: Barb Mumblo will lead a hike from the Tunnel Ridge Trailhead up to the Sterling Mine Ditch and back down to the Bear Gulch trailhead. The Sterling Mine Ditch was completed in 1877 to bring water from the Little Applegate River to Sterling Creek for hydraulic mining. The berm along the ditch is a great trail and has recently been improved by Applegate volunteers. Elevations range from 2,400 to 2,800 feet through oak woodlands and meadows with great views of the Little Applegate. The hike is easy and about four miles long, with a shuttle between trailheads. Meet at 9 a.m. in Ruch at the parking lot near Ruch Country Store on Highway 238. For information, call Barb at 541-899-3855 (week days).

Siskiyou Outback Trail Runs

Saturday, July 14: Registration is open for the 14th annual Siskiyou Outback trail runs. There will be three races this year, the traditional 50K and 15K, plus a new 50-mile distance. See www.siskiyououtback.com for information.

Siskiyou Velo Club - beginner group rides

Saturdays, April 14, 21, 28: The Siskiyou Velo bicycle club is organizing a series of four group rides on Saturdays in April designed to get adults on a bicycle again.

The rides, on sections of the Bear Creek Greenway, will begin with slow, easy outings of about six miles and progress to moderate rides of about 14 miles. Each ride will include a stop for coffee or tea and social time. The goal is to help people get some exercise and feel comfortable riding in a group. Organizers will teach techniques, skills and etiquette of group riding.

Participants must wear a helmet, carry a spare tube and sign an insurance waiver to release the bicycle club from liability.

The rides, which begin at 10 a.m., are:

April 14: An 11-mile ride will start at Blue Heron Park in Phoenix and continue to Medford's Bad Ass Cafe.

April 21: A 14-mile ride will begin at Jefferson Nature Center at US Cellular Park in Medford and proceed to Central Point, with coffee stop along the way.

April 28: A 14-mile ride will start at Lynn Newbry Park in Talent and continue to Bear Creek Park in Medford for a coffee treat picnic provided by the Siskiyou Velo Club.

For information, call Phil Gagnon at 541-488-4289 or email star@mind.net.

“Driver” and ride-leader trainings

Saturdays, April 14 and 28: Siskiyou Velo Club is offering various trainings, including skills trainings and ride-leader trainings. The skills trainings focus on teaching cyclists to drive their bikes the way they would drive a car. This is called “vehicular cycling” and has been shown to make cyclists safer on roads by making them as visible and predictable as other motorists. For more information on what will be taught at the various trainings, contact Phil Gagnon at 541-488-4289 or star@mind.net.

Recurring road rides

Every Saturday: A brisk, two- to four-hour ride begins at 9 a.m. at Cycle Sport in Medford. The course changes from week to week. Call ride leader Alex Hayes for details at 541-857-0819.

Every Sunday: Cycle Analysis in Jacksonville hosts a 2- to 3-hour road ride at 8 a.m. All fitness levels welcome. Riders regroup at major intersections, and there are cut-off spots to make the ride shorter if needed. Contact Jana Jenson at 541-899-9190, or email cyclea@internetcds.com.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, Ashland: Rides organized by the crew at Ashland Cycle Sport, 191 Oak St., Ashland. Meet at the Plaza in Ashland at 6:30 p.m. Riders of all abilities are welcome on the Tuesday ride, which usually lasts until dark. The Thursday ride is usually longer (2 to 2 1/2 hours) and faster paced. Lights are highly recommended. Helmets and a safe, functioning bike are required. Call Scott at 541-488-0581 for further information. Website is at www.roguecycle.com.

Every Wednesday, Jacksonville: Starting at 6 p.m., Cycle Analysis hosts a two-hour ride on either the Britt trails in Jacksonville or nearby John's Peak, which has almost 200 miles of trails. All comers are welcome — no age or ability limits. Helmets are mandatory and lights are required during the winter. Contact Jana Jenson at 541-899-9190, or email cyclea@internetcds.com.

Every Saturday, Medford: This ride starts at Medford Cycle Sport, and the course varies from week to week, but riders can expect a brisk road ride that lasts 2 to 4 hours. Most rides include at least one (but usually two or three) 1- to 3-mile climbs. Call Alex at 541-857-0819 for information and starting time. Website is at www.roguecycle.com.

Saturday, April 28: The 22nd annual bike swap will run from noon to 4 p.m. at The Grove, 1195 E. Main St., Ashland. Admission is $1 per person or $3 per family. Those interested in selling items can be drop them off beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, April 27, or at 7 a.m. Saturday. For information, call Ashland Parks & Recreation at 541-488-5340 or see www.rvtd.org/bikeswap. To volunteer, call 541-951-7642 or email lori.ainsworth@ashland.or.us.

Siskiyou Mountain Club

Saturday, May 5: The Siskiyou Mountain Club will host its first volunteer appreciation night at 6 p.m. in Meese Auditorium at Southern Oregon University, 1250 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland. Participants are invited to enjoy appetizers, beverages and bid on a silent auction. At 7 p.m., a presentation will feature a virtual tour of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area, volunteer stories and granting of two awards. The 2002 Biscuit Fire left much of the wilderness area's 153-mile trail system impassable and dangerous. In 2010 and 2011, SMC volunteers spent more than 2,000 hours clearing 21 miles of a 28-mile route through the Kalmiopsis. Those planning to attend should RSVP at www.siskiyoumountainclub.org or contact Gabe Howe at 503-545-4911 or howegabe@gmail.com.

Coyote Trails School of Nature

Saturday, April 14: How to build a survival debris shelter. Shelter is your first priority for surviving in a temperate climate. Gain hands-on experience building a warm and protective debris shelter with materials offered by the earth. You might leave the class with the confidence of knowing how to survive a night in the cold. Class will run from noon to 2 p.m. at North Mountain Park Nature Center in Ashland. For ages 7 and older. To register, see www.ashland.or.us/register or call North Mountain Park at 541-488-6606. Cost is $15. Instructor is Jesse Biesanz. Cost is $15.